KEYBOARD STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVED ILLUMINATION CHARACTERISTICS

摘要

A keyboard structure for improving the uniformity of illumination comprises a substrate having a reflective surface and a key switch assembly. The key switch assembly is disposed adjacent and specifically on top of the substrate and comprises a keycap, a contact assembly and a light emitting means. The light emitting means can be located either between the keycap and the contact assembly or on the substrate and adjacent to the contact assembly. The keycap further has a portion which is optically transmissive. The light from the light emitting means, directly and/or after reflecting from the reflective surface passes through one or more of the gap between adjacent keycaps or a row of keycaps and through the optically transmissive portion of the keycaps, thus illuminating the keyboard structure. Different colours may be used in different zones of the keyboard. The reflective surface and the light emitting means can have the same colour.

主权项

1. A keyboard structure for improved illumination characteristics, the structure comprising:
a substrate having a reflective surface; and a key switch assembly disposed adjacent the substrate, the key switch assembly comprising:
a keycap;a contact assembly; anda light emitting means, the light emitting means disposed adjacent the contact assembly, wherein light emitted from the light emitting means is incident on the reflective surface of the substrate and is reflected to areas surrounding the key switch assembly; and wherein the substrate comprises perforations shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the key switch assembly therethrough.